The Golden Rule, Ethic Of Reciprocity and the Wiccan Rede
By Vexen Crabtree 2001 Dec 28
1. The Golden Rule Introduction
The Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do to you) and the Wiccan Rede (If no harm is done, do as you will) are forms of the Ethic of Reciprocity. Greek philosophers in the fourth centurybce derived it from logic as the most basic moral code, and four thousand years ago it appeared in ancient Egypt. It is the most basic relativistic-logic ethic. On account of its simplicity it is the most universal moral code known; appearing in nearly all cultures, being derived from multiple teachers, religions and philosophies at different times in different ways.
“The principle of reciprocity is often the justification, motivation and, in some cases, the essence of a moral code.”"A History of Sin" by Oliver Thomson, p34
The Golden Rule appears in most religions including: African Traditional1, Baha'i, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Native American, Paganism, Scientology, Shintoism, Sikhism, Taoism, Wicca4 and Zoroastrianism. It appears in most generic cultures and secular philosophies: Atheism, Humanism, Greek philosophy & culture, Marxism7, Roman antiquity1 and Persian1 culture. The oldest occurance of the golden rule may be one from 1970 to 1640BCE from ancient Egypt, making it a four-thousand old doctrine at least. The Egyptian empire spread its methods of religion and myths worldwide.
Yet it is not a universal belief of all religions. Nordic culture is probably an exception. Satanism does not accept the ethic of reciprocity6 and Anton LaVey edited the Golden Rule to add a note saying that he believed that punishment was acceptable for a persons' action if a person deemed them deserving of it for some reason.
“Every atheist I have known has always fallen back upon the one concept echoed worldwide, and taught by religious and secular leaders throughout all time: the so-called "Golden Rule." Jesus was repeating an old Jewish proverb when he said "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," and Confucius was recording an old Chinese saying when he wrote "Do not do to others what you would not want done to you."All atheist systems of morality seem to derive in various ways from this core principle, and so it would be appropriate to say that atheists stand for the Golden Rule in its fullest meaning and significance. I believe that any rule or belief which violates this principle is discarded by most atheists as immoral...”
Richard Carrier 1999
2. The Ethic Of Reciprocity Does Not Work
Unfortunately the ethic of reciprocity does not work. It is merely a goodwill gesture, and is not a practical belief to enforce.
The High End: Be kind to your enemies
Selfless and noble, this ethic has ironically catalysed some of the worst atrocities in history. It has led to people being led happily by ruthless rulers into barbaric warfare and inhumane oppression as the indoctrinated masses fail to revolt against corrupt rule, especially the corrupt rule of Christianity during the Middle Ages.
“At its higher level it becomes more generous and less mercenary, recognising the superior quality of idea as formulated for instance by Lao Tzu in ancient China: 'For good return good: for evil return good'”"A History of Sin" by Oliver Thomson, p34
Impractical and inhuman, this ethic has only ever been realized by asocial sectarian groups who break away from the rest of the world; rather than create a working ethic that increases the goodness of the world they abandon the world to the more cruel leaders who they fail to oppose.
The Low End: Do to others as they do to you
This more common form of the ethic of reciprocity also doesn't work because, for example, a violent warrior is going to have a very different idea of what normal conduct is. One who fights for survival is both willing to attack others, and defend himself, and upholding the ethic of reciprocity appears to tell him that it is ok for him to attack others, just because it's something he expects to happen to him too. Survivalists and those who expect others to treat them badly, who are happy in a tooth-for-tooth world are given the all-clear to go forth and act as they wish. The ethic of reciprocity is too idealistic, and can only ever maintain the status quo rather than create an atmosphere of goodwill. Most support it because they are unable to think of a better way, and it has a feel-good factor because the statement is "seen as good".
“At the lower end, this is the rule of vendetta, 'an eye for an eye'. Violent behaviour by one group tends to produce a justification for the morality of violence by any opposing groups.”"A History of Sin" by Oliver Thomson, p34
Mostly this is due to its simplicity, it is the first general ethical statement that can be made when you take relativism between people into account, so most organized systems of thought and personal philosophies contain many exceptions and additions to this ethic. For example, no-one wants to be put in jail, yet most people believe that a prison system is morally better than having no prison system.
In short, this form of reciprocal ethics only can support the status quo, it does not create any better moral system than what already exists. It is superfluous, and with codes like these things can only get worse!
3. Adherents of the Golden Rule
Some of the holy texts and religious literature quoted below asserts the ethic of reciprocity in a "negative" form, where it says "do not" do something, and some display the positive form where it actively states that you behave positively as you want others to treat you. The most ancient form of the golden rule, 4000 years old, is expressed in the positive form.
- Buddhism:
- Christianity: Matthew 7:12: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them"
- Confucianism:
- Confucius said "Achieve for others what you want to acheieve for yourself" 7
- Analects 15:23: "Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you" 5,8
- Doctrine of the Mean 13.3: "Tse-kung asked, 'Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?' Confucius replied, 'It is the word 'shu' -- reciprocity. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire'" 5
- Mencius VII.A.4: "Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence" 5
- Ancient Egyptian: "Do for one who may do for you, that you may cause him thus to do." The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant, 109 - 110 Translated by R.B. Parkinson. The original dates to 1970 to 1640 BCE and may be the earliest version ever written.5
- Hinduism:
- Jainism:
- Acarangasutra 5.101-2: "Therefore, neither does he [a sage] cause violence to others nor does he make others do so" 5
- Lord Mahavira, 24th: Tirthankara: "In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self" 5
- Sutrakritanga 1.11.33: "A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated" 5,8
- "we should refrain from inflicting upon others such injury as would appear undesirable to us if inflicted upon us" 8
- Judaism:
- "Jewish literature abounds in passages containing the Golden Rule"8
- Leviticus 19:18: "...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" 5
- Talmud, Shabbat 31a.: "That which is hateful unto thee do not to your neighbour. This is the whole of the Torah. The rest is commentary" 2, 5
- Tobit 4:15: "And what you hate, do not do to any one" 5
Paganism: All forms of Paganism practice the Ethic of Reciprocity4
- Plato: 4th century philosopher: "May I do to others as I would that they should do unto me." 5, 8
- Sikhism:
- Socrates: 5th century philosopher: "Do not do to others that which would anger you if others did it to you." 5
- Zoroastrianism:
References: (What's this?)
Harvey, Graham & Hardman, Charlotte
"Pagan Pathways" (1995). First published by Thorsons 1995. All quotes taken from Thorsons 2000 edition.
Pilkington, C. M.
"Teach Yourself Judaism" (1995). Published by Hodder Headline PLC.
Reynolds, Alfred
"Jesus Versus Christianity" (1993 ed). Originally published 1988. Cambridge International Publishers, London UK.
Thomson, Oliver
"A History of Sin" (1993 hardback). Canongate Press.
Notes:
- members.aol.com/porchfour/religion/golden.htm.
- Pilkington (1995).
- Richard Carrier "What an Atheist Ought to Stand For", 1999.
- Harvey & Hardman (1995) p11.
- Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance (OCRT) "Shared belief in the Golden Rule" at URL www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc.htm accessed 2001 & 2005.
- "Satanism and The Ethic Of Reciprocity" by Vexen, 2002 at URL www.dpjs.co.uk/ethics.html accessed 2002 Oct.
- Thomson (1993) p34.
- Reynolds (1988) p271-272.
- 2005 Dec26: Page re-organized and religion-by-religion summary added.